We defend our clients’ freedom, assets and rights — in Berlin, Brandenburg and throughout Germany.
If you are searching for an english-speaking lawyer in Berlin handling money laundering cases, Pohl & Marx is the law office for your case.
We handle all communication with the investigating authorities on your behalf, request access to the criminal investigation files, and conduct a thorough legal assessment of the allegations in order to protect your liberty and assets effectively.
You should not face the investigating authorities or appear before a criminal court without experienced and successful criminal defense counsel.
Do not make any statements to the investigating authorities without legal counsel, and remain calm.
Do not respond to letters or notices from the police, customs authorities, public prosecutor’s office or court without first seeking legal advice.
Anything you say or any document you provide may be used against you. This also applies if your bank has frozen your account.
If you have been given a deadline to respond, make sure it is met. But do not handle the matter on your own or act hastily.
Simply give us a call or send us an email. One of our lawyers will provide an initial assessment as soon as possible.
Simply contact us without obligation to discuss retaining one of our lawyers to defend you in your money laundering case, receive a free initial assessment by phone, or arrange a consultation.
Pohl & Marx Rechtsanwälte
Kurfürstenstraße 130
10785 Berlin
We are committed to providing you with a strong and dedicated defense if you are suspected of money laundering.
Below, you will find some of the most common situations in which we can provide you with legal advice and effective representation.
We handle all communication with the authorities, cancel the appointment and request access to the investigation files.
Banks rarely disclose the reasons. We advise you on the possible reasons and the next steps.
Stay calm and do not act hastily. Simply give us a call and we will approach the matter in a structured manner.
A serious measure taken by the authorities. We request access to the investigation files and review the court orders.
Do not submit a statement before we have reviewed the investigation files, discussed the case with you and provided a clear assessment of the opportunities and risks.
We guide you through the customs proceedings and defend you against the money laundering allegations.
A professional approach is crucial: review the investigation files, examine the evidence and develop a structured defense.
We take over your defense immediately, request access to the investigation files and ensure that all court deadlines are met.
Simply contact us with no obligation to hire an attorney to handle your money laundering case and your defense, to receive a brief initial assessment over the phone at no cost, or to schedule a consultation.
Pohl & Marx Rechtsanwälte
Kurfürstenstraße 130
10785 Berlin
Attorneys Thomas Pohl and Jan Marx specialize in criminal law and have been a strong legal team since 2008.
Combined, the two have already defended more than two hundred clients in money laundering cases—ranging from relatively minor cases to large-scale and complex ones.
There are many activities that can raise suspicion of money laundering. These almost always involve transactions involving funds in an account (book money), cash, or valuable items.
Below are some typical triggers for suspicion of money laundering:
I received and forwarded someone else's money on behalf of an online acquaintance in order to help them. Now i am suspected of money laundering.
I made an investion (in cryptos) and received and passed on other people's money so that my profits would finally be paid out.
I was caught by customs with cash, and now I'm suspected of money laundering. The money was confiscated.
I exchanged fiat currencies for cryptocurrencies on a P2P platform and received payments from other users in the process. I didn't know that fraud was involved.
An acquaintance or friend asked me to let them use my account, and I transferred money or withdrew cash for them.
I deposited cash from friends or family members, and now the bank asks me where the money came from.
I have a side job where I receive and forward money transfers or packages. Could this be money laundering?
Officers searched me, my car, or my apartment and found and confiscated a conspicuously large amount of cash.
Just give us a call if you are accused of intentional or reckless money laundering.
No. You are not required to appear at the summons hearing, and it is advisable not to speak with the police.
Any statement you make can be used against you. This also applies to cases where you believe you have done nothing wrong, such as in cases of reckless (grossly negligent) money laundering.
Even if you yourself have been defrauded, you should not speak with the police but rather with an attorney who specializes in money laundering cases.
We will cancel the appointment and request access to the case files. Only then will we decide together on a written statement.
That is possible.
Intent—that is, knowing and intending what one is doing—is not required.
In fact, under Section 261 of the German Criminal Code (StGB), it is also a criminal offense to hold or use money derived from criminal acts if one recklessly fails to recognize that the money received stems from a criminal act.
The key factor, then, is whether there was recklessness.
What the law says:
Section 261 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) provides for fines or prison terms of up to five years for money laundering (in particularly serious cases, even up to ten years).
What practical experience shows:
It depends on the individual case and the right defense strategy.
Unsuspended prison sentences are generally only a concern in cases involving intentional money laundering involving large sums (starting at approximately €50,000).
For first-time offenders accused only of reckless money laundering, fines may be imposed in the event of a conviction.
As defense attorneys, we naturally seek first and foremost to find arguments to protect our clients from a conviction and to have the case dismissed.
Money laundering is a criminal offense under Section 261 of the German Criminal Code (StGB); investigative and criminal proceedings are governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure (StPO).
Therefore, a lawyer who is competent and experienced in criminal law and criminal procedure is generally the right choice.
The additional qualification “Certified Specialist in Criminal Law” is considered a mark of expertise.
Because money laundering allegations touch on a wide variety of areas of life, depending on the case, additional knowledge in the areas of business operations, cryptocurrencies, and cybercrime is helpful—or even essential—for a lawyer to successfully defend their clients.
Attorneys Thomas Pohl and Jan Marx are not only certified specialists in criminal law but are also independent entrepreneurs themselves and have practical legal experience in the areas of cryptocurrencies and cybercrime.
In any case where you either have someone else’s money in the account or cannot provide irrefutable proof of the legal origin of your own money, you should not speak with the bank at all.
If money laundering is suspected, banks are required by the Money Laundering Act to block transactions and will not provide you with a reason for the block.
Any statement or document you provide may later be used against you in criminal proceedings.
Reckless money laundering occurs when someone holds, uses, or otherwise handles money derived from criminal activity without realizing that the money comes from a crime, even though it should be obvious that something is wrong.
To determine this legally, the totality of the circumstances is considered to assess whether the recipient of the money ignored the warning signs with gross negligence or particular indifference.
This is possible in several situations.
If you are convicted of intentional or reckless money laundering, the court will, in almost all cases, mandatorily order the forfeiture of the “proceeds of the crime.”
In many cases, this refers to the “dirty” money you received from others.
Even if you have passed on the money you received, you may still owe the government the full amount received.
Even if the preliminary investigation is discontinued due to lack of suspicion (§170 II StPO) or if you are acquitted, there is still a risk of losing the money if you cannot prove that you possessed only legally acquired funds.
Attorney fees depend heavily on the circumstances of the individual case.
The most relevant factors are:
In very straightforward cases involving small amounts of money, you can expect to pay approximately €595 to €1,200 during the preliminary investigation.
For less extensive and less serious money laundering allegations, attorney fees during the preliminary investigation range from €1,200 to €2,500. This applies to most cases.
For cases of moderate complexity, defense costs range from approximately €2,500 to €5,000.
Additional costs are incurred for defense during a court hearing (which vary significantly depending on the court’s location).
If you’d like, please contact us to request an initial assessment of your case. In almost all cases, we can tell you right away how much a defense by one of our attorneys will cost.
We offer full cost transparency because we agree on all terms in writing with you before any defense costs are incurred.